DRUM OVERHEAD MIC COMPARISON

This is a comparison of several mics I have on hand that would work for drum overheads. Choosing the right pair of overheads for a drum recording can be crucial in achieving the right sound for the project. Hopefully this video can offer you a few insights to what might be the best for you.
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[@gabril7297]

Finally a video that go straight to sound comparison

[@ramicksrameka3449]

0:33 pattern 1 telefunken 1:00 pattern 1 c2 1:27 pattern 1 akg 214 1:54 pattern1 m160

[@Malmsteen1990]

Overheads only Telefunken M60: Pattern 1: 0:34 Pattern 2 : 0:42 Pattern 3: 0:49 Behringer C-2 Pattern 1: 1:01 Pattern 2: 1:09 Pattern 3: 1:17 AKG 214 Pattern 1: 1:28 Pattern 2: 1:36 Pattern 3: 1:44 Beyerdynamic M160 Pattern 1: 1:55 Pattern 2: 2:03 Pattern 3: 2:11

[@franciscogranadospantoja3641]

nice

[@TheStrangesHubbs]

Thank you, I really appreciate the overheads only contrasted with the full mix. Solid work!

[@HarmonicMolecues]

the winner is the Beyer and the surprise are the Behringers.

[@simonsmith2642]

Behringer c2 is a hidden gem... but the beyerdynamic ribbons take the win...

[@robertsimpson5801]

Wow, great comparison! I felt that some of the more expensive mics (the Telefunkens, AKGs, Beyerdynamics) sounded much better outside of the full mix, but in the mix, they all sounded great. The M160s sounded excellent on the tom/snare part. 👍👍

[@jaegervand2112]

Crazy thing is that the C-2 would be almost as perfect as the Telefunken in a full mix. Behringer has yet to come up with a good large diaphragm, but this little devil is shockingly good.

[@dummy0000000]

I don't know your monitoring setup but there is actually quite a difference between two. Especially when mixed. Listen to that ride cymbal, it's full, detailed and present and I can't say the same about C2's

[@Simonewhitesim-1music]

Overall Nice. I use the C2 on Small snare drums also. Really cool.

[@keithrichards4296]

Check your monitors! There's nothing in Beh comparable to the m60. Tone (thin, harsh, terrible highs), image, detail (or the lack of).

[@jaegervand2112]

@@keithrichards4296 Check your ears. I'm on Oppo's on my Merging Anubis. Sure the m60 is better, and so much so that pros willingly (including myself) is willing to pay for it. BUT, in a overcompressed, crushed mix the difference - while still noticable - will be dissapointingly small.

[@keithrichards4296]

@@jaegervand2112 Interestingly you mention 'check your ears' and talk about your setup. I don't know you, or how critical/demanding you are, but in your main post you say that the mic "is shockingly good", what it is not. I don't know, as well, the level of the OH's in your mixes, but I work with jazz/acoustic music, and a mic like this would DESTROY any record I do (actually, the level of musicians I work would deny from recording with a sound like this).

[@84grogro]

telefunken m60 0:33 behringer c2 1:00 akg c214 1:28 bayerdynamic m160 1:54

[@billyhughes9776]

The Telefunken M60 and Beyerdynamics M160 sounded the best to me (clearly).

[@tossedpenny]

Agreed. A blend of both in the mix would be the magic sauce.

[@Phant0mPL]

The truth is Telefunken sounds great on solo OHV, but most of engineers gonna cut it with EQ for the mix and in the end it gonna sounds closer to Behringer anyway ;)

[@vicdrummer1]

Really great, straight to the point comparison. Only thing would be to have crash hits within the overhead only sections. Also, very surprised at how the behringers stacked up with the rest!

[@Mio-fu1sr]

telefunken and akg sound the best,without the cheap hi mid range,the 160 is the total opposite,it has that mid api range but with no cheap sound,and u can use it if u want snare that sticks out or something

[@CoversConPepa]

Don't trust me, go and check every Behringer C2 review or comparison video on KZbin and the only people hating will start their comment with a fancy super expensive monitors brand. Like, bruh, most of us are watching from our phones with some cheap headphones, no one cares about your $4k monitors! I don't think you could find a better PAIR of mics for $50, let alone a pair that would include the stereo bar and case, I would pay $50 even if the mics came wrapped in tin foil!

[@Aries_Reign]

I interned at a local chicago live sound company. We used those live.

[@BamBam_PDX]

I have the C2’s and I’ve been thinking about upgrading, but after hearing the side by side, I’m thinking are the Beyerdynamics really $1350 better?

[@CoversConPepa]

@@BamBam_PDX I upgraded to the B5's because of an Amazon lightning deal where I got them for less than $80 the pair. I would still pay the regular $80 each price.

[@graysonhoward1562]

There’s a lot better bang for your buck options than Beringer. I have never heard any gear by them I liked

[@hanakejason]

214 sound awesome

[@InsaneCarville]

In the nicest and most constructive way possible, I advise to consider Overheads as the whole drums sound while the spot (kick and snare) act as clarity. Great video just for mixing and demonstration purposes I thought the spot mics were a little too loud to my ears.

[@markvmmm]

i think it depends on the genre. i listened to some master-stems of popular songs (some ppl figured out how to extract them from the Rock Band game) and i was surprised that the overheads were used as cymbal mics with everything below 500 hz filtered out. i guess they used room mics for ambience and tone

[@boobo3763]

@@markvmmm Yep, that's my approach, exactly -Always high pass (well, I avoid highpassing these days because of phase issues. Low-shelving is better to me...) everything below 350 approx and then fill in with close mics. Room mics can soooometimes work for me, but I'm often finding myself chucking those in the bin... Heard an interview with Shoeps where he said he doesn't really use room mics...

[@MatthewBarelick]

Telefunken wins this one hands down better highs and mids while still not overbearing!

[@gastonjabaly]

If this was meant to be comparison the video should have to be edited so the overhead mics play back to back not like this

[@CarlinLusk]

The interesting thing is that reading the comments you have such a wide range of opinions. We all like what we like, and sometimes we like different things. Not a drummer here but the C2 pair, for the money, is almost impossible to beat.

[@djtrets]

It seems like with the telefunken you don't need any other mics for the kit lol what a sound!! hahah

[@danieljanca]

Nice video, thanks. Telefunken M60 and AKG C214 are both pleasant, the M60 being more spacious and full and the C214 being more focused. The Behringer C2 is thin, not detailed, the reason it works decently in the mix is that the close mics sound very good in comparison and are pretty loud. The Beyerdynamic M160 has a very prominent midrange, not universal but can be useful if that's needed specifically. What do you think?

[@tootory9506]

Just All Overheads In A Mixed Row Would Have Been Better To Compare... The "Full" Gets In The Way Of Comparing

[@kvasnosky]

As some wrote, this is a full mix that heavily relies on the close mic kik and snare mics, but that being said.... I liked in this order the m60 (great wide detailed, lacks low but fine for this style mix), then m160(great focused), then 214 (Crap fullbodied) and beringers (crap thin paper garbage) last.

[@Duracellmumus]

One vote for M60 and one for m160 The condensers is realy sensitive for a room and celling height. Here is they seem slow and dull if comparing them with THAT snare. The M60’s has the best energy and timeing with snare may they can be same as snare mike(s)?

[@PorchBass]

Nice snare! M60 for me please.

[@Mustis1524]

To me it sounds like the C-2's have some unpleasant harshness and lacks some high-end info, talking about the cymbals specifically.

[@libremocion9273]

Wich is the best against feedback noise on performance? Im sorry, I dont know if the words its right. Its the terrible piiiiiiii that comes out in the live musician nightmares

[@Bcwilderness]

hi what preamp interface and daw did they run through thanks good vid

[@GersonELongoria]

Woah... How did you record that snare? What mics and placements? It sounds amazing!

[@lawrencescotto]

Great info. I like the transitions. Very comprehensive. Thank you

[@LuiGiSotres]

Amo los C2

[@jamesconnors5653]

Single OH mic with instrument orientation reference is all I use.

[@YaBoiMike_]

Proud to be sub 420, looking at getting new overheads🤣🤣🤣

[@wladdaimpala88]

The 214 gets trashed sometimes, but it makes a very solid OH mic.

[@morbidmanmusic]

Behringer was very harsh. the rest, not bad. The214 sound better with no roll off.

[@tasteapiana]

I didn't think the M160s would sound that good, but it makes sense because of their rolloff negating any weird room reflections. I'd do a M/S with one of those and a couple M60s. That sounds like a fairly balanced kit so a well chosen location for such a M/S setup should do a great job without needing distant spot mics.

[@CAwannabe123]

great sounds! what are you using on kick and snare?

[@hunterwestsounds]

If I'm remembering correctly, it would have been a Shure Beta 52 on kick in, Warm Audio 47jr on kick out, Telefunken M80 on snare top, and a 57 on snare bottom.

[@kryzs_kornhell]

Your playing needed much more cymbals, because that's when you can tell if a OH mic is good or not.

[@rolandhillmann7475]

Jup

[@rosendoleonarocha5423]

Great video. Thank you for sharing it!

[@davidreynolds6718]

Telefunken. Not close.

[@patrikprommer3762]

LOL, the behringer c2 has similar character like the ribbon :D

[@joevining2603]

The Telefunken M60 pair sounded amazing with smooth, but present clarity. The M160 pair sounded excellent, as well, and had an almost already finished modern pop mix sound to them, like there was a compressor in the chain. The 214 pair sounded just like a pair of AKG 414s to me - a very recognizable sound. Not a fan of the Behringer pair - harsh high-mids and not a smooth high end, but that's to be expected from them, as most of their gear has that signature.

[@igorstankovic3275]

great video. but i think u sopose to tune toms higer so we can actualy hear whats hepening with those. With thhis low tune all rec overhead only toms sound like cardboard.

[@lanphanh]

Hi, can the AKG C214 be used on stage or just for studio for recording only?

[@boobo3763]

Loved this video! I just can't get behind Behringer, for some reason...